Fluid Transport & Power Control Parts Play Wide-ranging Roles

Taiwanese makers urged to partner with more advanced counterparts

Over the past several years, Taiwan's machinery industry has been focusing on developing automated machines by using top-grade fluid transport and power control systems and parts, whose makers in Taiwan have hence been motivated to develop servo-controlled products.

Taiwan's manufacturers of fluid transport and power control systems and parts, which are ubiquitously installed as critical components in wide ranging machine tools, heavy-duty, metalworking, industrial, engineering machinery, steel mills and power generation, are mostly medium and small enterprises generating modest margins, lacking savvy marketing skills, hence can rarely afford to raise R&D spending, nor build global brand recognition. But they usually can make the most of existing technologies to enhance competitiveness by keeping up to current trends. For instance, some have developed products to comply with eco-protection requirements, helping them compete with rivals of the U.S., Japan and European Union.

An industry insider suggests the timeless tactic “if you can't beat them, join them,” urging domestic manufacturers to look for partnerships with foreign counterparts in highly industrialized nations to upgrade products, as well as tapping existing manufacturing skills to diversify product range and create new demand.

Long-term R&D efforts have helped many domestic manufacturers to make headway, turning out various new-generation solenoid valves, special filters, energy-saving controllers, automated water-drainage devices and special rubber parts for clean rooms to help high-tech firms tackle pollution-disposal problems.

Strategic Alliance

Founded over three decades ago, WYECO Auto Valves Co., Ltd. specializes in developing and producing valves for a variety of industries, and has developed innovations as multi-hole stage to reduce noise in valves to enhance service quality to the petrochemical sector, as well as increasingly installed clean-room equipment for the high-tech industry.

The company three years ago strategically allied with Siemens AG of Germany to collaboratively market Siemens' intelligent SIPART PS2 electropneumatic positioners by adopting the products on its valves. The partnership with the world-renowned Siemens is designed to boost market share. Wu Mei-lan, WYECO president, says the strategic alliance with Siemens will enable the firm to provide new solutions.

Siemens notes the SIPART PS2 is cutting-edge. The intelligent electropneumatic positioner has such merits as simple installation and automatic commissioning, simple operation via three input keys and a user-friendly two-line LCD (liquid crystal display), negligible air consumption during stationary operation, ensuring maximum positioning pressure on the valve seat, extensive diagnostic functions for valve and actuator, and external non-contact position sensor as option for extreme ambient conditions.

A sampling of WYECO's products include diaphragm actuated control valves, cylinder actuated control valves, cylinder actuated Y-type control valves, heat medium three-way control valves, manual valve for hyper-cryogenics, hyper-cryogenics emergency shut-off valves, cylinder actuated ball valves, cylinder actuated butterfly valves, and diaphragm/cylinder actuated saunders valves.

Patented Valve
Founded in 1975 by the couple Chiu Shun-hsing and Wu Mei-lan, WYECO introduced the first-generation Y-type control valve in 1985 that was patented in four nations. In 1988, the company installed a computerized precision CV valve tester at its Taoyuan plant and successfully developed the second-generation Y-type control valve. The company is headquartered in Taipei and operates two plants, one in Taoyuan of northern Taiwan and the other Kaohsiung of southern Taiwan.

Being dedicated to innovation helped WYECO to penetrate the dyeing and finishing equipment sector during 1992-1995 after landing OEM (original equipment manufacturer) orders from a Japanese firm, as well as big-ticket orders for steam control valves from Hisaka Co.

WYECO focuses on four segments: the domestic market, the China market, the overseas market, and Taiwan's repair and maintenance market, making the firm an integrated service provider, who also adopts CRM (customer relationship management) system to enhance management of and interactions with clients.

Industrial Valves

Jun Enterprises Corporation, founded in June 1997, is a leading manufacturer and exporter of industrial valves, pipe fittings, OEM (original equipment manufacturer) products for oil, gas, water and chemical industries, promoting itself as one-stop shop to customers worldwide.

Operating a modern factory in Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province, China, this maker has filled an influx of export orders over the past few years, with major products including gate, globe, check ball and other types of valves, and fittings for oil, chemical, natural gas and electricity generating systems. The company also has a well-established R&D department for made-to-order valves.

Offering globe valves pressure rated from 150, 300, 600, 900, 1,500 to 2,500 lbs that range in sizes from two to 20 inches, the ISO9001-, CE Mark-, and API-certified company says sales have grown consistently over the past several years due to dedication to developing innovative products with advanced manufacturing skills.

Making products mainly in China, Jun adopts strict quality-controls before delivery to ensure high quality, enabling it to build a solid reputation at home and abroad, which is also achieved by making sure of on-time shipment.

With 120 well-trained workers, Jun has exported products under the eponymous label to 27 nations, mainly the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, South America, India, and Asia.

Besides specializing in customized products, Jun Enterprises has over the past several years teamed up with foreign partners to produce industrial valves as OEM and ODM (original equipment/design manufacturer), being confident to land more OEM and ODM orders based on its strong reputation globally and claiming to have secured many orders by word of mouth.

Double-diaphragm Pumps

Dyi Sheng Industry Co., Ltd., founded in 1987, is a Taiwan-based maker of air-powered double-diaphragm pumps, having begun as designer and manufacturer of sprayer equipment before engaging in the pump field.

Backed by electro-mechanical and material science knowledge, the company since 1988 has been developing, manufacturing pneumatic double-diaphragm pumps, able to offer customized accessories and services.

With operations based on “quality first, service oriented, technological innovation, integrity,” the company became CE certified in 1999 and ISO9001 certified in 2007.

Making pumps to handle cement, paint, sewage, chemicals, adhesives, oils, resins, printing ink, gasoline etc., the maker is a familiar name in various industries, including civil engineering, chemicals, electrical and electronics, paper, mechanical equipment, auto repair, and handicrafts.

Dyi Sheng's wet body air-powered double-diaphragm pumps can be made of aluminum alloy, stainless steel 316 and polypropylene, able to be run idle continually without damage for long durations, used safely in hazardous environments, and can handle paints, resins, dyes, adhesives, abrasive/corrosive chemicals, glazes, sludge etc.

Insisting on high-quality production and customer satisfaction, the maker has won wide recognition globally, with major export outlets being Europe, America and Asia, where customers trust Dyi Sheng's ability to fill customized orders.

Transmission Gears

Win Tec Gear and Shaft Corporation was founded in 1988 by Hong Zhi-zhong who began offering customized gear-hobbing services to the domestic gear industry.

To meet demand for high-quality products in volume, Win Tec has install an array of imported Japanese and German automated CNC (computerized numerically controlled) lathes, gear-hobbing machines, grinders, and CNC skiving machines to raise accuracy and efficiency, as well as having installed Japanese-made gear-gauges for quality control.

Being fully equipped with the latest production and inspection equipment enables Win Tec to turn out products meeting global standards, including mainly transmission gears for speed reducers, planetary gears, shafts, pinions, gear shafts, gearbox parts, gear parts for motorized wheelchairs, electric scooters and automobiles.

Incidentally, Win Tec is also reportedly an upstanding corporate citizen who advocates charity, labor rights and employee well-fare.